The Masterbuilt 800 vs 1050 choice can seem hard at first. The good news is that both grills cook great food and use the same gravity-fed charcoal system. I found that the Masterbuilt 800 is the best fit for most people because it costs less and comes with a griddle. Pick the 1050 if you often cook for a big family, a backyard BBQ, or a game day crowd and need more room. I looked at both grills in real use, not just on paper, and this guide will help you choose the one that fits your space, your budget, and the way you cook.
Masterbuilt 800 Review
I bought the Masterbuilt 800 because I wanted real charcoal flavor without spending all day tending a fire. I wanted one grill that could smoke, grill, and cook breakfast on a griddle. After many weeks of use, I cooked ribs, brisket, burgers, steaks, wings, and pork shoulder. I learned what this grill does well and where it falls short. Here is my honest experience.
My Overall Experience
I love cooking outside. Most weekends, I make food for my family and friends. I wanted a grill that was easy to use but still gave me real charcoal flavor. That is why I picked the Masterbuilt 800.
After a few months, I felt I made the right choice. It held heat well. It made great food. I did not have to fight with the fire like I did on my old smoker. I could spend more time with my family and less time checking the grill.
It was not perfect, but it met my needs better than I expected.
Setup and First Impressions
The first job was putting it together. It took me about two hours. The steps were clear. Some parts were heavy, so having a second person helped.
Once it was built, it felt solid. The lid closed well. The shelves felt strong. Nothing felt loose or cheap.
The grill is large. It needs a good amount of space on a patio or deck. It is also heavy, so I do not move it often.
My first thought was simple. This felt like a grill I would use for years.
My Real Cooking Experience
This is where the Masterbuilt 800 really stood out.
I tested it on brisket, pork shoulder, ribs, burgers, steaks, chicken wings, and whole chickens. I used it for quick dinners and long weekend cooks.
Setting the temperature was easy. I picked the heat, and the grill did the rest. During long cooks, the temperature stayed steady. I did not need to keep making changes.
One overnight pork shoulder cook gave me the most confidence. I set the grill to 250°F before bed. When I checked it the next morning, it was still close to my target. That gave me peace of mind.
The smoke flavor was just what I wanted. The burgers had more flavor than they did on my gas grill. The ribs came out juicy with a nice smoke ring. The brisket formed a dark bark and stayed tender. Chicken wings came out crisp on the outside and juicy inside.
The grill also heated up fast. I did not spend much time waiting before I could start cooking. That made weeknight meals much easier.
After many cooks, I noticed the results stayed the same. The grill gave me steady heat from one cook to the next. That kind of consistency matters when you cook often.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Rich charcoal flavor | Heavy to move |
| Easy to control the heat | Takes time to build |
| Griddle comes with it | The app can lose connection |
| Good cooking space | Cleaning takes some work |
| Heats up fast | Long cooks use more charcoal |
The Griddle Was a Nice Bonus
At first, I thought I would only use the griddle now and then. I was wrong.
I made smash burgers, eggs, bacon, pancakes, fried rice, and fajitas. Everything cooked well. The flat surface gave me plenty of room.
Changing from the grill to the griddle was simple. I usually planned ahead, so it was never a problem.
The griddle added real value. It helped me cook more meals outside instead of using my kitchen.
What I Did Not Like
No grill is perfect.
The phone app worked most of the time, but it lost connection a few times during long cooks. The grill kept working, so it was more annoying than serious.
Cleaning also takes time. I cleaned the grease tray and ash after every few cooks. That helped keep everything working well.
The grill also uses a fair amount of charcoal during long smoking sessions. That is normal for charcoal cooking, but it is still something to plan for.
After months of use, I saw a little paint wear near the hottest parts. It did not change how the grill worked, but I noticed it.
Who Should Buy the Masterbuilt 800?
I think the Masterbuilt 800 is a great fit for people who love backyard BBQ. It is also a good choice for families and anyone moving from a gas grill. If you want real smoke flavor with less work, this grill is easy to enjoy.
If you have very little space or only grill a few times each year, it may be more than you need.
Final Verdict
After many months, I still enjoy using the Masterbuilt 800. I would buy it again. It gives me great charcoal flavor without making every cook hard work. The heat stays steady. The food tastes great. The griddle is more useful than I expected. It does need regular cleaning, and long cooks use plenty of charcoal. Even so, the good parts are much bigger than the bad. For me, the Masterbuilt 800 has become one of my favorite grills for everyday meals and weekend BBQ.
Masterbuilt 1050 Review
I bought the Masterbuilt 1050 because I wanted more room to cook for my family and friends. I also wanted real charcoal flavor without spending all day watching the fire. After many weeks of use, I cooked brisket, ribs, burgers, chicken wings, steaks, pork shoulder, and turkey. I learned what this grill does well and where it could be better. Here is my honest review.
My Overall Experience
I cook outside almost every weekend. Some days, I make a few burgers. Other days, I smoke meat for many hours. I wanted one grill that could do both jobs with less work.
The Masterbuilt 1050 did just that. It gave me the smoke flavor I wanted. It also made long cooks much easier. I spent more time with my family and less time checking the fire.
The best part was the large cooking space. I could cook for a crowd without running out of room.
Setup and First Impressions
Building the grill took me about two hours. The guide was easy to follow. Some parts were heavy, so another person helped a lot.
When I finished, the grill felt strong. The lid closed well. The shelves felt solid. Nothing felt loose.
The grill is big. It needs plenty of space. It is also heavy, so I do not move it often.
My first thought was simple. This grill looked ready for years of weekend BBQ.
My Real Cooking Experience
This was my favorite part.
I cooked brisket, pork shoulder, ribs, burgers, steaks, chicken wings, whole chickens, and a turkey. I also filled all the cooking racks during family BBQs to see how the grill handled a full load.
Setting the heat was easy. I picked the temperature, and the grill did the rest. During long cooks, the heat stayed close to my target. I did not need to keep making changes.
One night, I smoked two pork shoulders while I slept. The next morning, the grill was still close to 250°F. That gave me a lot of trust in the temperature control.
The food tasted great. The brisket had a dark bark and stayed juicy. The ribs were tender. The burgers had rich charcoal flavor. The wings were crisp outside and juicy inside. The turkey cooked well from end to end.
The grill also heated up fast. That helped on busy weeknights when I wanted burgers or steaks without waiting too long.
One Saturday, I cooked three racks of ribs, two pork shoulders, and a tray of wings for a family BBQ. Everything fit. Everything cooked well. I did not need a second grill.
After many weeks of use, the results stayed the same. The heat stayed steady. The food came out the way I expected. Long cooks used plenty of charcoal, but that is normal for a grill this size.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Huge cooking space | Very heavy |
| Great charcoal flavor | Takes time to build |
| Easy heat control | Uses more charcoal on long cooks |
| Heats up fast | Needs a lot of space |
| Great for big cookouts | The app can lose connection |
The Large Cooking Space Made a Big Difference
The size is the main reason I bought the Masterbuilt 1050.
I cooked ribs on one rack and chicken on another. I made a whole turkey for a holiday meal. I cooked burgers, hot dogs, and vegetables at the same time during family cookouts.
The extra room saved time. I did not need to cook in batches. I could finish everything together. That made serving food much easier.
For me, the larger grill was worth it.
What I Did Not Like
No grill is perfect.
The phone app worked most of the time, but it lost connection a few times. The grill kept cooking, so it was not a big problem.
Cleaning takes some work. I cleaned the grease tray and ash often. That helped keep the grill working well.
The grill is large and heavy. Once I found a good spot for it, I left it there.
It also uses a good amount of charcoal during long cooks. I always keep an extra bag nearby.
After months of use, I saw a little paint wear near the hottest spots. It did not change how the grill worked.
Who Should Buy the Masterbuilt 1050?
I think this grill is a great choice for people who cook for large families or big groups. It is also a good fit for people who love weekend BBQ or want to move from a gas grill to charcoal.
If you have a small patio, cook only once in a while, or want a small grill, this may not be the best choice.
Final Verdict
After many months, I would buy the Masterbuilt 1050 again. It gives me real charcoal flavor with much less work than my old smoker. The large cooking space is its best feature. It lets me cook for family and friends without feeling crowded. It does need regular cleaning, and it uses plenty of charcoal on long cooks. Even so, I enjoy using it every time I fire it up. It has become one of my favorite grills for weekend BBQ and holiday meals.
Detailed Comparison for Masterbuilt 800 vs 1050
I spent a lot of time cooking on both grills. I made quick dinners and slow BBQ on each one. I found that both cook great food. The real choice comes down to size, the griddle, and how many people you cook for.
Cooking Capacity
| Feature | Masterbuilt 800 | Masterbuilt 1050 |
| Cooking space | 800 sq. in. | 1,050 sq. in. |
| Best for | Small families | Big families |
| Real use | 2–3 racks of ribs | 4–5 racks of ribs |
The Masterbuilt 800 had enough room for my normal cooks. I could make burgers, ribs, or two pork shoulders with no problem. The 1050 gave me much more room. It was the better pick when I cooked for a big family BBQ or a holiday meal.
Cooking Performance
| Feature | Masterbuilt 800 | Masterbuilt 1050 |
| Smoke flavor | Great | Great |
| Heat control | Steady | Steady |
| Low and slow | Very good | Very good |
| High heat | Very good | Very good |
I cooked brisket, ribs, burgers, steaks, and chicken on both grills. The food tasted the same. Both gave me rich charcoal flavor. Both held heat well. I could not tell which grill cooked the food by taste alone.
Heat-Up Time and Temperature Control
| Feature | Masterbuilt 800 | Masterbuilt 1050 |
| Heat-up time | Fast | Fast |
| Long cooks | Steady | Steady |
| Easy to use | Yes | Yes |
Both grills heated up fast. Setting the heat took only a few seconds. During long cooks, both stayed close to the set temperature. I did not spend much time making changes.
Griddle and Cooking Options
| Feature | Masterbuilt 800 | Masterbuilt 1050 |
| Griddle | Included | Not included |
| Smoke | Yes | Yes |
| Grill | Yes | Yes |
| Roast and bake | Yes | Yes |
The Masterbuilt 800 won this round for me. I used the griddle more than I expected. I made smash burgers, eggs, bacon, fried rice, and fajitas. The 1050 can do the same jobs, but you do not get the griddle in the box.
Build Quality and Design
| Feature | Masterbuilt 800 | Masterbuilt 1050 |
| Build | Strong | Strong |
| Weight | Heavy | Heavier |
| Patio space | Less | More |
| Shelf space | Good | Bigger |
Both grills felt well made. The 1050 gave me a larger front shelf, which helped during big cooks. The 800 fit my patio better and was easier to move.
Setup, Cleaning, and Care
| Feature | Masterbuilt 800 | Masterbuilt 1050 |
| Setup | Easy | Easy |
| Ash cleanup | Simple | Simple |
| Grease cleanup | Similar | Similar |
| Care | Easy | Easy |
Building both grills took about the same time. Cleaning was also about the same. I cleaned the ash and grease often. That kept both grills working well.
Fuel Use
| Feature | Masterbuilt 800 | Masterbuilt 1050 |
| Charcoal use | Lower | A little higher |
| Long cooks | Good | Good |
| Hopper | Same | Same |
When I cooked the same amount of food, both grills used about the same amount of charcoal. The 1050 used more only when I filled the extra cooking space.
Smart Features and Ease of Use
| Feature | Masterbuilt 800 | Masterbuilt 1050 |
| Digital controls | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Easy to learn | Yes | Yes |
The controls felt the same. I learned both grills very fast. The app worked well most days. It did lose connection once in a while, but the grill kept cooking.
Value for Money
| Feature | Masterbuilt 800 | Masterbuilt 1050 |
| Price | Lower | Higher |
| Griddle | Yes | No |
| Overall value | Better | Better for large cooks |
For me, the Masterbuilt 800 gave the best value. It costs less and comes with a griddle. The 1050 is worth the extra money only if you often need more cooking space.
Who Should Buy Each One?
| Masterbuilt 800 | Masterbuilt 1050 |
| Small families | Large families |
| Daily cooking | Big cookouts |
| People who want a griddle | People who need more space |
| Smaller patios | Large patios |
| Better value | Bigger capacity |
I would buy the Masterbuilt 800 for most homes. It has enough room for daily meals and weekend BBQ. I would choose the 1050 only if I cooked for large groups on a regular basis.
Conclusion
After using both grills, I found that they cook almost the same. The food, smoke flavor, and heat control were very close. The biggest difference was cooking space. The Masterbuilt 800 is the better pick for most people because it costs less and comes with a griddle. The Masterbuilt 1050 is the right choice if you need more room for large family meals and big BBQ parties.
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